Borough responds to crisis

Dominican College Portstewart Staff and Pupils pictured with some of the items collected for the refugee crisis. INCR40-302PL

Published:11:00Wednesday 23 September 2015

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The local collection point for the Northern Ireland Calais Refugee Solidarity charity say they have been inundated with donations.

Portstewart Clothing Company began collecting donations for the refugees in Calais at the start of September.

Speaking to The Coleraine Times on Friday, Ryan McGeough from the store thanked all those who had donated.

“We have been totally overwhelmed by the generosity of the people of the area.

“There was four van loads sent to Cork, that just shows you volume donated by the people of the area,” he explained.

“We had people donating on a daily basis - everything from toothpaste, to tents, to clothing and medical equipment.

“We even had people who just came in and handed over money in a bid to help those in need.

“None of this will go to waste, these are all items that are required by those seeking refuge.

“We would just like to thank all those who helped in any way.”

Ryan went on to say that they had now stopped taking donations.

“But that’s not to say that they wouldn’t take them again in the near future,” he said.

“We will watch and see what is happening.

“It’s not only people in Calais that need help, so we will wait and see, and if the need is there we will open up again for donations.”

Meanwhile, the Borough’s first School of Sanctuary, Domincan College organised a collection for the Cork to Calais effort.

A School of Sanctuary is a school which actively encourages inclusion for all.

And, the whole school community came together last week to donate items for those in need.

Pictured are representatives from year 8 and year 14 together with principal Ms Rosemary Ronan and teachers Miss Libby Thompson and Mrs Danielle Willighan, who is a member of the Causeway Borough of Sanctuary Group Committee.